Attenuating handle for recreational and work implements

• US 5,088,734 A
• Filed: 01/09/1991
• Issued: 02/18/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gary L. Glava
• Original Assignee: Gary L. Glava
• Inventors: Glava, Gary L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coven, Edward M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stoll, William E.
• Application Number:
  US07/639,240
• Time in Patent Office: 405 Days
• Field of Search: 273/73 J, 273/73 R, 273/75, 273/81 R, 273/72 R, 273/67 A, 273/80.8, 273/80 A, 273/80 R, 273/80 B, 273/DIG. 29
• US Class Current: 473/523
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 49/08 with special construction of the handle
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/06 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/08 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/10 with means for indicating correct holding positions A63B60/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/14 Coverings specially adapted for handles, e.g. sleeves or ribbons
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/54 with means for damping vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 273/29 Silicone

Abstract

A hand-operated implement, which is a shock-producing or vibration-producing implement, having an attenuating handle. The implement has a handle attached to the implement, which handle has a central core, a gripping surface and a gel shock- or vibration-absorbing material positioned adjacent to or recessed in the core and under the gripping surface, wherein the gel shock- or vibration-absorbing material is a gel having a cone penetration between about 100 and 350(10^-1 mm) and a ultimate elongation of at least 100% and wherein the thickness of the gel shock- or vibration-absorbing material is sufficient to substantially maintain a shock- or vibration-absorbing separation between the core and at least a portion of the gripping surface, provided that the thickness of the gel shock- or vibration-absorbing material is less than that which interfers with the use of control of the implement, thereby absorbing the shock or vibration produced by the implement without significantly changing the operating control characteristics of the implement. Also disclosed is a method of attenuating shock and vibration in a handle of an implement.

Claims

1. A hand-operated implement, which is a shock-producing or vibration-producing implement, comprising:

a handle attached to the implement, the handle having;

a central core;

a flexible outer gripping surface; and

a gel shock- or vibration-absorbing material positioned between the core and the flexible outer gripping surface thereby substantially encircling the core and whereby a depression in the flexible outer gripping surface is capable of causing a corresponding depression in the gel material, wherein the gel shock- or vibration-absorbing material comprises a gel having a cone penetration between about 100 and 350(10^-` mm) and an ultimate elongation of at least about 100% and wherein the thickness of the gel shock- or vibration-absorbing material is sufficient to substantially maintain a shock- or vibration-absorbing separation between the core and at least a portion of the gripping surface, provided that the thickness of the gel shock- or vibration-absorbing material is less than that which interferes with the use or control of the implement, thereby absorbing the shock or vibration produced by the implement without significantly changing the operating control characteristics of the implement.

2. The implement of claim 1 wherein the gel shock- or vibration-absorbing material is adjacent to the core.

3. The implement of claim 1 wherein the gel shock- or vibration-absorbing material is partially recessed into the core, a portion of said material extending above the outer surface of the core.

4. The implement of claim 1 wherein the gel shock- or vibration-absorbing material comprises spaced-apart strips of material.

5. The implement of claim 4 wherein the gel shock- or vibration-absorbing strips of material are positioned parallel to the axis of the handle.

6. The implement of claim 4 wherein the gel shock- or vibration-absorbing strips of material are wrapped around the core.

7. The implement of claim 1 wherein the handle further comprises an intermediate layer of material positioned between the gel shock- or vibration-absorbing material and the gripping surface.

8. The implement of claim 7 wherein the intermediate layer of material comprises overlapping strips of material

9. The implement of claim 8 wherein the overlapping strips of material are positioned parallel to the axis of the handle.

10. The implement of claim 7 wherein the intermediate layer of material is wrapped around the gel shock- or vibration-absorbing material.

11. The implement of claim 7 where in the intermediate layer of material comprises an adhesive so that the intermediate layer of material will adhere to the gel shock- or vibration-absorbing material.

12. The implement of claim 7 wherein the handle further comprises a top layer of material wrapped around the intermediate layer of materials.

13. The implement of claim 1 wherein the implement is a recreational implement.

14. The implement of claim 13 wherein the recreational implement is a tennis racket.

15. The implement of claim 13 wherein the recreational implement is a golf club.

16. The implement of claim 1 wherein the implement is a construction tool.

17. The implement of claim 16 wherein the construction tool is a hammer.

18. The implement of claim 1 wherein the implement is a garden tool.

19. An attenuating handle for a hand-operated implement, which is a shock-producing or vibration-producing implement, comprising:

a central core;

means for attaching the core to the implement;

a flexible outer gripping surface; and

a gel shock- or vibration-absorbing material positioned between the core and the flexible outer gripping surface thereby substantially encircling the core and whereby a depression in the flexible outer gripping surface is capable of causing a corresponding depression in the gel material, wherein the gel shock- or vibration-absorbing material comprises a gel having a cone penetration between about 100 and 350(10^-1 mm) and an ultimate elongation of at least 100% and wherein the thickness of the gel shock- or vibration-absorbing material is sufficient to substantially maintain a shock- or vibration-absorbing separation between the core and at least a portion of the gripping surface, provided that the thickness of the gel shock- or vibration-absorbing material is less than that which interferes with the use or control of the implement, thereby absorbing the shock or vibration produced by the implement without significantly changing the operating control characteristics of the implement.

20. The handle of claim 19 wherein the gel shock- or vibration-absorbing material is adjacent to the core.

21. The handle of claim 19 wherein the gel shock- or vibration-absorbing material is partially recessed into the core, a portion of said material extending above the outer surface of the core.

22. The handle of claim 19 wherein the gel shock- or vibration-absorbing material comprises spaced-apart strips of material.

23. The handle of claim 22 wherein the gel shock- or vibration-absorbing strips of material are positioned parallel to the axis of the handle.

24. The handle of claim 22 wherein the gel shock- or vibration-absorbing strips of material are wrapped around the core.

25. The handle of claim 19 further comprising of a flexible intermediate layer of material positioned between the gel shock- or vibration-absorbing material and the gripping surface.

26. The handle of claim 25 wherein the intermediate layer of material comprises overlapping strips of material.

27. The handle of claim 26 wherein the overlapping strips of material are positioned parallel to the axis of the handle.

28. The handle of claim 25 wherein the intermediate layer of material is wrapped around the gel shock- or vibration-absorbing material.

29. The handle of claim 25 wherein the intermediate layer of material comprises an adhesive so that the intermediate layer of material will adhere to the gel shock- or vibration-absorbing material.

30. The handle of claim 25 wherein the handle further comprises a top layer of material wrapped around the intermediate layer of material.

31. A method of attenuating shock and vibration in a handle of a hand-operated implement, which is a shock-producing or vibration-producing implement, comprising the step of:

placing a gel shock- or vibration-absorbing material between the core and flexible outer gripping surface of the handle of an implement, wherein the gel shock- or vibration-absorbing material comprises a gel having a cone penetration between about 100 and 350(10^-1 mm) and an ultimate elongation of at least about 100% and wherein the thickness of the gel shock-or vibration-absorbing material is sufficient to substantially maintain a shock- or vibration-absorbing separation between the core and at least a substantial portion of the gripping surface whereby a depression in the flexible outer gripping surface is capable of causing a corresponding depression in the gel material, provided that the thickness of the gel shock- or vibration-absorbing material is less than that which interferes with the use or control of the implement, thereby absorbing the shock or vibration produced by the implement without significantly changing the operating control characteristics of the implement.